Catalonia crisis: ‘I'm not in Belgium to seek asylum’, Puigdemont

Catalonia’s ousted president has said he came to Belgium to act “in freedom and safety”, but not to seek political asylum.

Speaking at packed press conference in Brussels, Puigdemont said he would return home immediately if a fair judicial process was guaranteed.

On Monday, Spain’s attorney general called for charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds to be brought against him and 13 other separatist leaders. That request showed “a desire, not for justice, but for vengeance”, Puigdemont said.

His appearance marked a further twist in a month-long crisis triggered by an independence referendum in Catalonia on 1 October.

Asked by reporters on Tuesday how long he would stay, Puigdemont responded: “As long we consider it [necessary]. The situation is developing every day. We have better guarantees for our rights here and we can meet our obligations.”

He added: “If they [Spanish authorities] can guarantee to all of us, and to me in particular, a just, independent process, with the separation of powers that we have in the majority of European nations, if they guarantee that, we would return immediately.”

The press conference came as Spain’s constitutional court suspended Friday’s declaration of independence by the Catalan parliament, and the supreme court said it had begun proceedings against Catalonian parliamentary officials over their role in the referendum. Separately, Spain’s civil guard police force searched the headquarters of Catalonia’s regional police.